1
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Bao L, Zhu J, Shi T, Jiang Y, Li B, Huang J, Ji X. Increased transcriptional elongation and RNA stability of GPCR ligand binding genes unveiled via RNA polymerase II degradation. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:8165-8183. [PMID: 38842922 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA polymerase II drives mRNA gene expression, yet our understanding of Pol II degradation is limited. Using auxin-inducible degron, we degraded Pol II's RPB1 subunit, resulting in global repression. Surprisingly, certain genes exhibited increased RNA levels post-degradation. These genes are associated with GPCR ligand binding and are characterized by being less paused and comprising polycomb-bound short genes. RPB1 degradation globally increased KDM6B binding, which was insufficient to explain specific gene activation. In contrast, RPB2 degradation repressed nearly all genes, accompanied by decreased H3K9me3 and SUV39H1 occupancy. We observed a specific increase in serine 2 phosphorylated Pol II and RNA stability for RPB1 degradation-upregulated genes. Additionally, α-amanitin or UV treatment resulted in RPB1 degradation and global gene repression, unveiling subsets of upregulated genes. Our findings highlight the activated transcription elongation and increased RNA stability of signaling genes as potential mechanisms for mammalian cells to counter RPB1 degradation during stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Bao
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Junyi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Tingxin Shi
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yongpeng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Boyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Beijing Advanced Center of RNA Biology (BEACON), Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiong Ji
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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2
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Bétermier M, Klobutcher LA, Orias E. Programmed chromosome fragmentation in ciliated protozoa: multiple means to chromosome ends. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0018422. [PMID: 38009915 PMCID: PMC10732028 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00184-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYCiliated protozoa undergo large-scale developmental rearrangement of their somatic genomes when forming a new transcriptionally active macronucleus during conjugation. This process includes the fragmentation of chromosomes derived from the germline, coupled with the efficient healing of the broken ends by de novo telomere addition. Here, we review what is known of developmental chromosome fragmentation in ciliates that have been well-studied at the molecular level (Tetrahymena, Paramecium, Euplotes, Stylonychia, and Oxytricha). These organisms differ substantially in the fidelity and precision of their fragmentation systems, as well as in the presence or absence of well-defined sequence elements that direct excision, suggesting that chromosome fragmentation systems have evolved multiple times and/or have been significantly altered during ciliate evolution. We propose a two-stage model for the evolution of the current ciliate systems, with both stages involving repetitive or transposable elements in the genome. The ancestral form of chromosome fragmentation is proposed to have been derived from the ciliate small RNA/chromatin modification process that removes transposons and other repetitive elements from the macronuclear genome during development. The evolution of this ancestral system is suggested to have potentiated its replacement in some ciliate lineages by subsequent fragmentation systems derived from mobile genetic elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Bétermier
- Department of Genome Biology, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lawrence A. Klobutcher
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UCONN Health (University of Connecticut), Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Eduardo Orias
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
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3
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Lu MW, Beh LY, Yerlici VT, Fang W, Kulej K, Garcia BA, Landweber LF. Exploration of the Nuclear Proteomes in the Ciliate Oxytricha trifallax. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020343. [PMID: 36838311 PMCID: PMC9958989 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear dimorphism is a fundamental feature of ciliated protozoa, which have separate somatic and germline genomes in two distinct organelles within a single cell. The transcriptionally active somatic genome, contained within the physically larger macronucleus, is both structurally and functionally different from the silent germline genome housed in the smaller micronucleus. This difference in genome architecture is particularly exaggerated in Oxytricha trifallax, in which the somatic genome comprises tens of thousands of gene-sized nanochromosomes maintained at a high and variable ploidy, while the germline has a diploid set of megabase-scale chromosomes. To examine the compositional differences between the nuclear structures housing the genomes, we performed a proteomic survey of both types of nuclei and of macronuclear histones using quantitative mass spectrometry. We note distinct differences between the somatic and germline nuclei, with many functional proteins being highly enriched in one of the two nuclei. To validate our conclusions and the efficacy of nuclear separation, we used protein localization through a combination of transformations and immunofluorescence. We also note that the macronuclear histones strikingly display only activating marks, consistent with the conclusion that the macronucleus is the hub of transcription. These observations suggest that the compartmentalization of different genome features into separate structures has been accompanied by a similar specialization of nuclear components that maintain and facilitate the functions of the genomes specific to each nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Lu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Leslie Y. Beh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - V. Talya Yerlici
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Wenwen Fang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Katarzyna Kulej
- Division of Protective Immunity and Division of Cancer Pathobiology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Benjamin A. Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Laura F. Landweber
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Correspondence:
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4
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Bhardwaj V, Sharma N. Absence of the Rpb9 subunit of RNA polymerase II reduces the chronological life span in fission yeast. J Basic Microbiol 2022; 62:900-910. [PMID: 35618649 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202200036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Fission yeast RNA polymerase II consists of 12 subunits, Rpb1-Rpb12. Among these subunits, Rpb9 is the only subunit whose absence does not cause lethality under optimum growth conditions in fission yeast. However, an rpb9 null fission yeast mutant exhibits a slow-growth phenotype under optimum growth conditions and a defect in survival under environmental and genotoxic stress conditions. To further gain an understanding of its physiological roles, in the present study we have elucidated the role of the Rpb9 subunit in chronological aging using fission yeast as the model organism. Our results provide evidence that the absence of Rpb9 reduces the chronological life span in fission yeast. Our data further shows that lack of Rpb9 in fission yeast causes oxidative stress sensitivity and accumulation of reactive oxygen species during the stationary phase. Our domain mapping experiments have demonstrated that the Rpb9 region encompassing its amino-terminal zinc finger domain and the central linker region is important for the role of Rpb9 in chronological aging. Finally, we also show that expression of the budding yeast or human Rpb9 ortholog can functionally complement the reduced chronological life span phenotype of the fission yeast rpb9 deletion mutant. Taken together, our study has identified a new role of the Rpb9 subunit in chronological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaibhav Bhardwaj
- University School of Biotechnology (USBT), Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Nimisha Sharma
- University School of Biotechnology (USBT), Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
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5
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Drews F, Boenigk J, Simon M. Paramecium epigenetics in development and proliferation. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2022; 69:e12914. [PMID: 35363910 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The term epigenetics is used for any layer of genetic information aside from the DNA base-sequence information. Mammalian epigenetic research increased our understanding of chromatin dynamics in terms of cytosine methylation and histone modification during differentiation, aging, and disease. Instead, ciliate epigenetics focused more on small RNA-mediated effects. On the one hand, these do concern the transport of RNA from parental to daughter nuclei, representing a regulated transfer of epigenetic information across generations. On the other hand, studies of Paramecium, Tetrahymena, Oxytricha, and Stylonychia revealed an almost unique function of transgenerational RNA. Rather than solely controlling chromatin dynamics, they control sexual progeny's DNA content quantitatively and qualitatively. Thus epigenetics seems to control genetics, at least genetics of the vegetative macronucleus. This combination offers ciliates, in particular, an epigenetically controlled genetic variability. This review summarizes the epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to macronuclear heterogeneity and relates these to nuclear dimorphism. This system's adaptive and evolutionary possibilities raise the critical question of whether such a system is limited to unicellular organisms or binuclear cells. We discuss here the relevance of ciliate genetics and epigenetics to multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Drews
- Molecular Cell Biology and Microbiology, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Wuppertal
| | | | - Martin Simon
- Molecular Cell Biology and Microbiology, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Wuppertal
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6
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Miller RV, Neme R, Clay DM, Pathmanathan JS, Lu MW, Yerlici VT, Khurana JS, Landweber LF. Transcribed germline-limited coding sequences in Oxytricha trifallax. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6192809. [PMID: 33772542 PMCID: PMC8495736 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The germline-soma divide is a fundamental distinction in developmental biology, and different genes are expressed in germline and somatic cells throughout metazoan life cycles. Ciliates, a group of microbial eukaryotes, exhibit germline-somatic nuclear dimorphism within a single cell with two different genomes. The ciliate Oxytricha trifallax undergoes massive RNA-guided DNA elimination and genome rearrangement to produce a new somatic macronucleus (MAC) from a copy of the germline micronucleus (MIC). This process eliminates noncoding DNA sequences that interrupt genes and also deletes hundreds of germline-limited open reading frames (ORFs) that are transcribed during genome rearrangement. Here, we update the set of transcribed germline-limited ORFs (TGLOs) in O. trifallax. We show that TGLOs tend to be expressed during nuclear development and then are absent from the somatic MAC. We also demonstrate that exposure to synthetic RNA can reprogram TGLO retention in the somatic MAC and that TGLO retention leads to transcription outside the normal developmental program. These data suggest that TGLOs represent a group of developmentally regulated protein-coding sequences whose gene expression is terminated by DNA elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard V Miller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Rafik Neme
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Derek M Clay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Jananan S Pathmanathan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Michael W Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - V Talya Yerlici
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jaspreet S Khurana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Laura F Landweber
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
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7
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Rzeszutek I, Maurer-Alcalá XX, Nowacki M. Programmed genome rearrangements in ciliates. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:4615-4629. [PMID: 32462406 PMCID: PMC7599177 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03555-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ciliates are a highly divergent group of unicellular eukaryotes with separate somatic and germline genomes found in distinct dimorphic nuclei. This characteristic feature is tightly linked to extremely laborious developmentally regulated genome rearrangements in the development of a new somatic genome/nuclei following sex. The transformation from germline to soma genome involves massive DNA elimination mediated by non-coding RNAs, chromosome fragmentation, as well as DNA amplification. In this review, we discuss the similarities and differences in the genome reorganization processes of the model ciliates Paramecium and Tetrahymena (class Oligohymenophorea), and the distantly related Euplotes, Stylonychia, and Oxytricha (class Spirotrichea).
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona Rzeszutek
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rzeszow, Pigonia 1, 35-310, Rzeszow, Poland.
| | - Xyrus X Maurer-Alcalá
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mariusz Nowacki
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
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8
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Allen SE, Nowacki M. Roles of Noncoding RNAs in Ciliate Genome Architecture. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:4186-4198. [PMID: 31926952 PMCID: PMC7374600 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.12.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ciliates are an interesting model system for investigating diverse functions of noncoding RNAs, especially in genome defence pathways. During sexual development, the ciliate somatic genome undergoes massive rearrangement and reduction through removal of transposable elements and other repetitive DNA. This is guided by a multitude of noncoding RNAs of different sizes and functions, the extent of which is only recently becoming clear. The genome rearrangement pathways evolved as a defence against parasitic DNA, but interestingly also use the transposable elements and transposases to execute their own removal. Thus, ciliates are also a good model for the coevolution of host and transposable element, and the mutual dependence between the two. In this review, we summarise the genome rearrangement pathways in three diverse species of ciliate, with focus on recent discoveries and the roles of noncoding RNAs. Ciliate genomes undergo massive rearrangement and reduction during development. Transposon elimination is guided by small RNAs and carried out by transposases. New pathways for noncoding RNA production have recently been discovered in ciliates. Diverse ciliate species have different mechanisms for RNA-guided genome remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Allen
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Switzerland
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9
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Yerlici VT, Lu MW, Hoge CR, Miller RV, Neme R, Khurana JS, Bracht JR, Landweber LF. Programmed genome rearrangements in Oxytricha produce transcriptionally active extrachromosomal circular DNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:9741-9760. [PMID: 31504770 PMCID: PMC6765146 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) is both a driver of eukaryotic genome instability and a product of programmed genome rearrangements, but its extent had not been surveyed in Oxytricha, a ciliate with elaborate DNA elimination and translocation during development. Here, we captured rearrangement-specific circular DNA molecules across the genome to gain insight into its processes of programmed genome rearrangement. We recovered thousands of circularly excised Tc1/mariner-type transposable elements and high confidence non-repetitive germline-limited loci. We verified their bona fide circular topology using circular DNA deep-sequencing, 2D gel electrophoresis and inverse polymerase chain reaction. In contrast to the precise circular excision of transposable elements, we report widespread heterogeneity in the circular excision of non-repetitive germline-limited loci. We also demonstrate that circular DNAs are transcribed in Oxytricha, producing rearrangement-specific long non-coding RNAs. The programmed formation of thousands of eccDNA molecules makes Oxytricha a model system for studying nucleic acid topology. It also suggests involvement of eccDNA in programmed genome rearrangement.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Talya Yerlici
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Michael W Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Carla R Hoge
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Richard V Miller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Rafik Neme
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jaspreet S Khurana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - John R Bracht
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA
| | - Laura F Landweber
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
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10
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Saettone A, Ponce M, Nabeel-Shah S, Fillingham J. RACS: rapid analysis of ChIP-Seq data for contig based genomes. BMC Bioinformatics 2019; 20:533. [PMID: 31664892 PMCID: PMC6819487 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-019-3100-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to next generation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) is a widely-used molecular method to investigate the function of chromatin-related proteins by identifying their associated DNA sequences on a genomic scale. ChIP-Seq generates large quantities of data that is difficult to process and analyze, particularly for organisms with a contig-based sequenced genomes that typically have minimal annotation on their associated set of genes other than their associated coordinates primarily predicted by gene finding programs. Poorly annotated genome sequence makes comprehensive analysis of ChIP-Seq data difficult and as such standardized analysis pipelines are lacking. RESULTS We present a one-stop computational pipeline, "Rapid Analysis of ChIP-Seq data" (RACS), that utilizes traditional High-Performance Computing (HPC) techniques in association with open source tools for processing and analyzing raw ChIP-Seq data. RACS is an open source computational pipeline available from any of the following repositories https://bitbucket.org/mjponce/RACS or https://gitrepos.scinet.utoronto.ca/public/?a=summary&p=RACS . RACS is particularly useful for ChIP-Seq in organisms with contig-based genomes that have poor gene annotation to aid protein function discovery.To test the performance and efficiency of RACS, we analyzed ChIP-Seq data previously published in a model organism Tetrahymena thermophila which has a contig-based genome. We assessed the generality of RACS by analyzing a previously published data set generated using the model organism Oxytricha trifallax, whose genome sequence is also contig-based with poor annotation. CONCLUSIONS The RACS computational pipeline presented in this report is an efficient and reliable tool to analyze genome-wide raw ChIP-Seq data generated in model organisms with poorly annotated contig-based genome sequence. Because RACS segregates the found read accumulations between genic and intergenic regions, it is particularly efficient for rapid downstream analyses of proteins involved in gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Saettone
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St, Toronto, M5B 2K3 Canada
| | - Marcelo Ponce
- SciNet High Performance Computing Consortium, University of Toronto, 661 University Ave, Toronto, M5G 1M1 Canada
| | - Syed Nabeel-Shah
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Cir, Toronto, M5S 1A8 Canada
| | - Jeffrey Fillingham
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St, Toronto, M5B 2K3 Canada
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11
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Clay DM, Yerlici VT, Villano DJ, Landweber LF. Programmed Chromosome Deletion in the Ciliate Oxytricha trifallax. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2019; 9:3105-3118. [PMID: 31506317 PMCID: PMC6778801 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The ciliate Oxytricha trifallax contains two nuclei: a germline micronucleus and a somatic macronucleus. These two nuclei diverge significantly in genomic structure. The micronucleus contains approximately 100 chromosomes of megabase scale, while the macronucleus contains 16,000 gene-sized, high ploidy "nanochromosomes." During its sexual cycle, a copy of the zygotic germline micronucleus develops into a somatic macronucleus via DNA excision and rearrangement. The rearrangement process is guided by multiple RNA-based pathways that program the epigenetic inheritance of sequences in the parental macronucleus of the subsequent generation. Here, we show that the introduction of synthetic DNA molecules homologous to a complete native nanochromosome during the rearrangement process results in either loss or heavy copy number reduction of the targeted nanochromosome in the macronucleus of the subsequent generation. This phenomenon was tested on a variety of nanochromosomes with different micronuclear structures, with deletions resulting in all cases. Deletion of the targeted nanochromosome results in the loss of expression of the targeted genes, including gene knockout phenotypes that were phenocopied using alternative knockdown approaches. Further investigation of the chromosome deletion showed that, although the full length nanochromosome was lost, remnants of the targeted chromosome remain. We were also able to detect the presence of telomeres on these remnants. The chromosome deletions and remnants are epigenetically inherited when backcrossed to wild type strains, suggesting that an undiscovered mechanism programs DNA elimination and cytoplasmically transfers to both daughter cells during conjugation. Programmed deletion of targeted chromosomes provides a novel approach to investigate genome rearrangement and expands the available strategies for gene knockout in Oxytricha trifallax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek M Clay
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY and
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
| | - V Talya Yerlici
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY and
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
| | - Danylo J Villano
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY and
| | - Laura F Landweber
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY and
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12
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Clay DM, Kim H, Landweber LF. Transformation with Artificial Chromosomes in Oxytricha trifallax and Their Applications. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2019; 9:3119-3127. [PMID: 31506318 PMCID: PMC6778790 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Oxytricha trifallax, like other ciliates, has separate germline and somatic nuclei. The diploid germline genome in the micronucleus is composed of long conventional chromosomes. The macronucleus contains a somatic genome which is naturally fragmented into thousands of kilobase-sized chromosomes. Here, we develop a method to stably incorporate artificial chromosomes into the macronucleus. We report two cases of successful transformation and demonstrate the use of somatic transformation to investigate gene regulation and gene function in Oxytricha We show that the transformed artificial chromosomes are maintained through multiple asexual divisions. Furthermore, they support the transcriptional regulation of the native chromosome from which they were derived and are translated to produce functional proteins. To test if transformed chromosomes are amenable to practical applications, we generated a tagged version of a representative gene (AL1) and used it to co-precipitate associated proteins. This revealed an association with nucleic acid binding proteins, specifically RNA-binding proteins, and RNA immunoprecipitation of AL1 revealed its association with multiple RNAs. The use of artificial chromosomes in Oxytricha enables an array of genetic and molecular biological assays, as well as new avenues of inquiry into the epigenetic programming of macronuclear development and genome rearrangement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek M Clay
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, and
| | - Hoyon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Laura F Landweber
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY,
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13
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Beh LY, Debelouchina GT, Clay DM, Thompson RE, Lindblad KA, Hutton ER, Bracht JR, Sebra RP, Muir TW, Landweber LF. Identification of a DNA N6-Adenine Methyltransferase Complex and Its Impact on Chromatin Organization. Cell 2019; 177:1781-1796.e25. [PMID: 31104845 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
DNA N6-adenine methylation (6mA) has recently been described in diverse eukaryotes, spanning unicellular organisms to metazoa. Here, we report a DNA 6mA methyltransferase complex in ciliates, termed MTA1c. It consists of two MT-A70 proteins and two homeobox-like DNA-binding proteins and specifically methylates dsDNA. Disruption of the catalytic subunit, MTA1, in the ciliate Oxytricha leads to genome-wide loss of 6mA and abolishment of the consensus ApT dimethylated motif. Mutants fail to complete the sexual cycle, which normally coincides with peak MTA1 expression. We investigate the impact of 6mA on nucleosome occupancy in vitro by reconstructing complete, full-length Oxytricha chromosomes harboring 6mA in native or ectopic positions. We show that 6mA directly disfavors nucleosomes in vitro in a local, quantitative manner, independent of DNA sequence. Furthermore, the chromatin remodeler ACF can overcome this effect. Our study identifies a diverged DNA N6-adenine methyltransferase and defines the role of 6mA in chromatin organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Y Beh
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics and Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | | | - Derek M Clay
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics and Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Robert E Thompson
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Kelsi A Lindblad
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics and Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Hutton
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - John R Bracht
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA
| | - Robert P Sebra
- Icahn Institute and Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Tom W Muir
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
| | - Laura F Landweber
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics and Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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14
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Michelini F, Jalihal AP, Francia S, Meers C, Neeb ZT, Rossiello F, Gioia U, Aguado J, Jones-Weinert C, Luke B, Biamonti G, Nowacki M, Storici F, Carninci P, Walter NG, d'Adda di Fagagna F. From "Cellular" RNA to "Smart" RNA: Multiple Roles of RNA in Genome Stability and Beyond. Chem Rev 2018; 118:4365-4403. [PMID: 29600857 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Coding for proteins has been considered the main function of RNA since the "central dogma" of biology was proposed. The discovery of noncoding transcripts shed light on additional roles of RNA, ranging from the support of polypeptide synthesis, to the assembly of subnuclear structures, to gene expression modulation. Cellular RNA has therefore been recognized as a central player in often unanticipated biological processes, including genomic stability. This ever-expanding list of functions inspired us to think of RNA as a "smart" phone, which has replaced the older obsolete "cellular" phone. In this review, we summarize the last two decades of advances in research on the interface between RNA biology and genome stability. We start with an account of the emergence of noncoding RNA, and then we discuss the involvement of RNA in DNA damage signaling and repair, telomere maintenance, and genomic rearrangements. We continue with the depiction of single-molecule RNA detection techniques, and we conclude by illustrating the possibilities of RNA modulation in hopes of creating or improving new therapies. The widespread biological functions of RNA have made this molecule a reoccurring theme in basic and translational research, warranting it the transcendence from classically studied "cellular" RNA to "smart" RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Michelini
- IFOM - The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology , Milan , 20139 , Italy
| | - Ameya P Jalihal
- Single Molecule Analysis Group and Center for RNA Biomedicine, Department of Chemistry , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109-1055 , United States
| | - Sofia Francia
- IFOM - The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology , Milan , 20139 , Italy.,Istituto di Genetica Molecolare , CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Pavia , 27100 , Italy
| | - Chance Meers
- School of Biological Sciences , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States
| | - Zachary T Neeb
- Institute of Cell Biology , University of Bern , Baltzerstrasse 4 , 3012 Bern , Switzerland
| | | | - Ubaldo Gioia
- IFOM - The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology , Milan , 20139 , Italy
| | - Julio Aguado
- IFOM - The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology , Milan , 20139 , Italy
| | | | - Brian Luke
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology , Johannes Gutenberg University , 55099 Mainz , Germany.,Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) , 55128 Mainz , Germany
| | - Giuseppe Biamonti
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare , CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Pavia , 27100 , Italy
| | - Mariusz Nowacki
- Institute of Cell Biology , University of Bern , Baltzerstrasse 4 , 3012 Bern , Switzerland
| | - Francesca Storici
- School of Biological Sciences , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States
| | - Piero Carninci
- RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies , 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku , Yokohama City , Kanagawa 230-0045 , Japan
| | - Nils G Walter
- Single Molecule Analysis Group and Center for RNA Biomedicine, Department of Chemistry , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109-1055 , United States
| | - Fabrizio d'Adda di Fagagna
- IFOM - The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology , Milan , 20139 , Italy.,Istituto di Genetica Molecolare , CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Pavia , 27100 , Italy
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15
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Neeb ZT, Nowacki M. RNA-mediated transgenerational inheritance in ciliates and plants. Chromosoma 2018; 127:19-27. [PMID: 29230532 PMCID: PMC5818585 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-017-0655-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In the age of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and with the availability of whole sequenced genomes and epigenomes, some attention has shifted from purely sequence-based studies to those of heritable epigenetic modifications. Transgenerational inheritance can be defined as heritable changes to the state of DNA that may be passed on to subsequent generations without alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. Although this phenomenon has been extensively studied in many systems, studies of transgenerational inheritance in mammals and other higher-level eukaryotes may be complicated by the fact that many epigenetic marks are reprogrammed during sexual reproduction. This, by definition, may obscure our interpretation of what is in fact truly transgenerational. Therefore, in this mini review, we discuss what is currently known in the field about transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in ciliates and plants, with a particular emphasis on RNA-mediated processes and changes in chromatin states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary T Neeb
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mariusz Nowacki
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
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16
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Khurana JS, Clay DM, Moreira S, Wang X, Landweber LF. Small RNA-mediated regulation of DNA dosage in the ciliate Oxytricha. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2018; 24:18-29. [PMID: 29079634 PMCID: PMC5733567 DOI: 10.1261/rna.061333.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Dicer-dependent small noncoding RNAs play important roles in gene regulation in a wide variety of organisms. Endogenous small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are part of an ancient pathway of transposon control in plants and animals. The ciliate, Oxytricha trifallax, has approximately 16,000 gene-sized chromosomes in its somatic nucleus. Long noncoding RNAs establish high ploidy levels at the onset of sexual development, but the factors that regulate chromosome copy numbers during cell division and growth have been a mystery. We report a novel function of a class of Dicer (Dcl-1)- and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP)-dependent endogenous small RNAs in regulating chromosome copy number and gene dosage in O. trifallax Asexually growing populations express an abundant class of 21-nt sRNAs that map to both coding and noncoding regions of most chromosomes. These sRNAs are bound to chromatin and their levels surprisingly do not correlate with mRNA levels. Instead, the levels of these small RNAs correlate with genomic DNA copy number. Reduced sRNA levels in dcl-1 or rdrp mutants lead to concomitant reduction in chromosome copy number. Furthermore, these cells show no signs of transposon activation, but instead display irregular nuclear architecture and signs of replication stress. In conclusion, Oxytricha Dcl-1 and RdRP-dependent small RNAs that derive from the somatic nucleus contribute to the maintenance of gene dosage, possibly via a role in DNA replication, offering a novel role for these small RNAs in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaspreet S Khurana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Derek M Clay
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Sandrine Moreira
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA
| | - Laura F Landweber
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
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17
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Gruchota J, Denby Wilkes C, Arnaiz O, Sperling L, Nowak JK. A meiosis-specific Spt5 homolog involved in non-coding transcription. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:4722-4732. [PMID: 28053118 PMCID: PMC5416832 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Spt5 is a conserved and essential transcriptional regulator that binds directly to RNA polymerase and is involved in transcription elongation, polymerase pausing and various co-transcriptional processes. To investigate the role of Spt5 in non-coding transcription, we used the unicellular model Paramecium tetraurelia. In this ciliate, development is controlled by epigenetic mechanisms that use different classes of non-coding RNAs to target DNA elimination. We identified two SPT5 genes. One (STP5v) is involved in vegetative growth, while the other (SPT5m) is essential for sexual reproduction. We focused our study on SPT5m, expressed at meiosis and associated with germline nuclei during sexual processes. Upon Spt5m depletion, we observed absence of scnRNAs, piRNA-like 25 nt small RNAs produced at meiosis. The scnRNAs are a temporal copy of the germline genome and play a key role in programming DNA elimination. Moreover, Spt5m depletion abolishes elimination of all germline-limited sequences, including sequences whose excision was previously shown to be scnRNA-independent. This suggests that in addition to scnRNA production, Spt5 is involved in setting some as yet uncharacterized epigenetic information at meiosis. Our study establishes that Spt5m is crucial for developmental genome rearrangements and necessary for scnRNA production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Gruchota
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5a, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Cyril Denby Wilkes
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CNRS, CEA, University of Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Olivier Arnaiz
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CNRS, CEA, University of Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Linda Sperling
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CNRS, CEA, University of Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Jacek K Nowak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5a, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
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18
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Lindblad KA, Bracht JR, Williams AE, Landweber LF. Thousands of RNA-cached copies of whole chromosomes are present in the ciliate Oxytricha during development. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:1200-1208. [PMID: 28450531 PMCID: PMC5513065 DOI: 10.1261/rna.058511.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The ciliate Oxytricha trifallax maintains two genomes: a germline genome that is active only during sexual conjugation and a transcriptionally active, somatic genome that derives from the germline via extensive sequence reduction and rearrangement. Previously, we found that long noncoding (lnc) RNA "templates"-telomere-containing, RNA-cached copies of mature chromosomes-provide the information to program the rearrangement process. Here we used a modified RNA-seq approach to conduct the first genome-wide search for endogenous, telomere-to-telomere RNA transcripts. We find that during development, Oxytricha produces long noncoding RNA copies for over 10,000 of its 16,000 somatic chromosomes, consistent with a model in which Oxytricha transmits an RNA-cached copy of its somatic genome to the sexual progeny. Both the primary sequence and expression profile of a somatic chromosome influence the temporal distribution and abundance of individual template RNAs. This suggests that Oxytricha may undergo multiple rounds of DNA rearrangement during development. These observations implicate a complex set of thousands of long RNA molecules in the wiring and maintenance of a highly elaborate somatic genome architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsi A Lindblad
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - John R Bracht
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA
| | - April E Williams
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, La Jolla 92093, USA
| | - Laura F Landweber
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
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19
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Neeb ZT, Hogan DJ, Katzman S, Zahler AM. Preferential expression of scores of functionally and evolutionarily diverse DNA and RNA-binding proteins during Oxytricha trifallax macronuclear development. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170870. [PMID: 28207760 PMCID: PMC5312943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
During its sexual reproduction, the stichotrichous ciliate Oxytricha trifallax orchestrates a remarkable transformation of one of the newly formed germline micronuclear genomes. Hundreds of thousands of gene pieces are stitched together, excised from chromosomes, and replicated dozens of times to yield a functional somatic macronuclear genome composed of ~16,000 distinct DNA molecules that typically encode a single gene. Little is known about the proteins that carry out this process. We profiled mRNA expression as a function of macronuclear development and identified hundreds of mRNAs preferentially expressed at specific times during the program. We find that a disproportionate number of these mRNAs encode proteins that are involved in DNA and RNA functions. Many mRNAs preferentially expressed during macronuclear development have paralogs that are either expressed constitutively or are expressed at different times during macronuclear development, including many components of the RNA polymerase II machinery and homologous recombination complexes. Hundreds of macronuclear development-specific genes encode proteins that are well-conserved among multicellular eukaryotes, including many with links to germline functions or development. Our work implicates dozens of DNA and RNA-binding proteins with diverse evolutionary trajectories in macronuclear development in O. trifallax. It suggests functional connections between the process of macronuclear development in unicellular ciliates and germline specialization and differentiation in multicellular organisms, and argues that gene duplication is a key source of evolutionary innovation in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary T. Neeb
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology and Center for Molecular Biology of RNA, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Hogan
- Tocagen Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DJH); (AMZ)
| | - Sol Katzman
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Alan M. Zahler
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology and Center for Molecular Biology of RNA, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DJH); (AMZ)
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20
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Woo TT, Chao JL, Yao MC. Dynamic distributions of long double-stranded RNA in Tetrahymena during nuclear development and genome rearrangements. J Cell Sci 2016; 129:1046-58. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.178236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bi-directional non-coding transcripts and their ∼29 nt small RNA products are known to guide DNA deletion in Tetrahymena, leading to the removal of one-third of the genome from developing somatic nuclei. Using an antibody specific for long double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), we determined the dynamic subcellular distributions of these RNAs. Conjugation-specific dsRNAs are found and show sequential appearances in parental germline, parental somatic nuclei and finally in new somatic nuclei of progeny. The dsRNAs in germline nuclei and new somatic nuclei are likely transcribed from the sequences destined for deletion; however, the dsRNAs in parental somatic nuclei are unexpected, and PCR analyses suggest their transcription in this nucleus. Deficiency in RNAi pathway leads to abnormal aggregations of dsRNA in both the parental and new somatic nuclei, whereas accumulation of dsRNAs in the germline nuclei is only seen in the Dicer-like gene mutant. In addition, RNAi mutants display an early loss of dsRNAs from developing somatic nuclei. Thus, long dsRNAs are made in multiple nuclear compartments and some are linked to small RNA production whereas others may participate in their regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai-Ting Woo
- Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Lan Chao
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Chao Yao
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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